Common Courtesies...

I miss the days when it was common to see a man open the door for a lady, when ladies dressed pretty (or should I say less "slutty"), and when neighbors were more neighborly. I look at my son and for him I miss the freedom to laugh, run, and play in the streets without fear. Let's keep it real - even a gated community won't keep a pedophile or thug out. I miss the days when social courtesies were common. Today, I'm likely to have a man rush past me and bogart the cab I flagged down,  let the elevator door slam in my face, witness teen girls scream vulgar tirades that would embarrass a sailor, and hear radio and tv ads on sex run just in time to entertain latch-key minors.

Why are we so impatient? We are too busy to be polite, we sure don't teach it, and we even have the audacity to frown at someone who dares to make a public scene of correction. To make matters worse, each generation adds to the accepting display of public rudeness. We have allowed ourselves to become too far removed from our "old school" foundation of respectable social demeanor. Why do we feel the need to take on every social cause except the cause to protest public displays of rude and inappropriate behavior?

We need to revisit the basics and we need to do it quickly. And we need to begin in our own homes...